Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Tadej Pogacar may be the leading light for UAE Team Emirates, but the Slovenian has hailed the collective effort of the cycling outfit after they finished as the season’s top team according to the UCI World Tour rankings of 2023.
In terms of wins, they were second – 57 victories compared to the Jumbo-Visma’s 69 – but Team Emirates had the most podium finishes, and they also had contributions from the largest base of 17 riders, demonstrating the depth of the team.
“The team deserves full credit for the accomplishments,” Pogacar told WAM at a ceremony organised last week at the headquarters of Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
“We faced numerous challenges throughout the season, but our effective management and collective efforts led us to the pinnacle, establishing us as the world’s number one team. My presence on the podium is not merely an individual achievement but a testament to the team’s dedication and teamwork. We function as a well-coordinated unit in all aspects, from our operational structure to the cyclists.”
Pogacar joined the team in 2019 as a 20-year old. In a testament to the talent spotting by UAE Team Emirates, the lead mascot has finished as the top-ranked rider for a third successive time even though he finished runner-up at the biggest centrepiece of the cycling calendar – Tour de France.
Having won in 2020 and 2021 Tour de France, he has finished second in both the previous editions. However, the fact remains that this UCI calendar year, UAE Team Emirates were on the podium more often than Jumbo-Visma, 139 times to 130, and had more top ten placings – 333 compared to the Dutch team on 249.
Pogacar underlined that since his arrival, he and his teammates have consistently strived for excellence and podium finishes. He admitted, though, that he had his doubts very initially.
Referring to the management, he said: “They invested in younger riders and I was one of them. They saw potential in me and straight away, the first year, we started winning. We made a plan to build the team around those results and to grow in this direction.
“During our visits to the UAE, we witness the remarkable talents within the team’s academy. These are exceptional athletes with the potential to consistently excel. Thanks to our management, we’ve grown accustomed to being at the forefront, and they will continue this tradition.”
There were 28 World Tour victories for UAE Team Emirates. Just like Pogacar in Slovenia before he joined, there were other riders who notched up National tour wins to contribute to the overall team glory. It reflects on the individual rankings leaderboard with Pogacar (1st), Adam Yates (8th), Almeida (10th), and Marc Hirschi (12th).
Pogacar emphasised that one of the defining attributes of the UAE Team Emirates is their commitment to nurturing talents and providing them with ample support.
“These young talents represent the core of the team’s future and possess the ability to carry on the legacy,” he said.
